O'Malley reports traffic deaths down 52% this year
Gov. Martin O'Malley, who says he makes a practice of checking the daily reports from the State Police on mayhem around the state, reports that this morning's statistics show a 52 percent drop in year-to-date traffic fatalities. That means 32 people have died on Maryland roads this year, compared with 66 at this time last year.
"That means 34 lives that have been saved," he told the Maryland Highway Safety Foundation in Annapolis.
The unaudited numbers certainly reflect in part the driving hiatus that was forced on many Marylanders during this month's twin snowstorms, when the state went almost a full week without a traffic death. But that by itself wouldn't explain the entire reduction.
O'Malley suggested that contributing factors include a heightened sense of awareness among drivers of road dangers, stepped-up law enforcement and increased responsiveness to the message that "speed kills."
O'Malley also gave credit to young drivers.
"Children today, young drivers, are acting more responsibly when it comes to the issue of drinking and driving," he said.
O'Malley also gave a strong signal that he would look favorably on a proposal to require ignition interlock devices -- devices that prevent a car from being started if the driver has consumed alcohol -- for all those convicted of drunk driving if the bill reaches his desk. The governor said the measure, a top priority of the foundation and Mothers Against Drunk Driving -- is "probaably a good idea."
Comments
That Martin O'Malley is a great governor. He doesn't clear the roads, resulting in gridlock, resulting in fewer collsions, and therefore fewer deaths. With any luck, he will stifle farming, so that there is no food so nobody dies of food poisoning. People -- time to water the tree of liberty.
Posted by: freedomlaw | February 18, 2010 2:25 PM
Are these numbers from the same calculator that O'Malley used to say how he saved and created over 20,000 jobs this past year?
Posted by: Kelly | February 18, 2010 2:26 PM
"That means 34 lives that have been saved,"
"We saved 10,000 jobs too!"
Posted by: Voters Ignorance | February 18, 2010 2:50 PM
Ignition locks? I have a better idea. Let's put the pictures of all convicted drunk drivers on a list for the rest of their lives and publish it on the Internet. We could call these people "Dangerous Substance Abuse Offenders." Then you'll know when one is in your neighborhood. Or a hundred or so. It's for the children.
Posted by: IdeaMan | February 18, 2010 3:01 PM
Ideaman, They can't publish the pictures of Drunk Drivers. Otherwise, they would have to publish the picture of House Speaker, Michael Busch's wife.
Posted by: Kelly | February 18, 2010 3:13 PM
Is there any O'Malley breath that doesn't
get publicity in this paper. Mostly with a pleasant, smiling photo, op.
ENOUGH!!!!!
Posted by: Runnertom | February 18, 2010 3:22 PM
Well if O'Malley reported it, it must be news!
And agreed, Kelly. 20,000 jobs saved or created in the past year? If that's the case, O'Malley, how many jobs were lost and not created this past year? I bet it's a lot higher than 20,000...
Posted by: Ryan | February 18, 2010 3:54 PM
Shhhhhhh, quiet people. Be nice. Our great Governor is home in the kitchen of the Governor's Mansion, cooking up some more figures he can spout with tomorrow's news.
When he is defeated this November, he'll have a great new cooking show on CNN. His cooking skills make Michael Vick look like the Dog Whisperer.
Posted by: Kelly | February 18, 2010 4:03 PM
Didn't you report about a year and a few months ago?
" Maryland played its small part in the decline. According to the State Highway Administration's latest estimate, traffic deaths in Maryland dropped last year to 586, compared with 615 in 2007. Both the federal and state numbers are preliminary. "http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/traffic/2009/04/us_traffic_deaths_drop_to_47ye.html
So cars are still getting safer and less Marylanders are dying? Is this really a new trend?
Posted by: Whimsical | February 18, 2010 4:03 PM
I realize that it is a big year for Martie with re-elections coming up and he really wants us all to think he did something good as Governor but this is ridiculous. You and your administration did not save any lives. The rhetoric does not work here, much like it does not work for your saved jobs remark. Is he aware that most people in this state did not drive for several of the 49 days that have passed in this year? We just got 2 blizzards last week - surely he has not forgotten this already? Just stick to the things you do best, like wasting our money and then telling us you have to take more of it because you didn't have enough to waste.
Posted by: Thrift | February 18, 2010 4:52 PM
"Time to water the tree of liberty". You're saying it's time for a civil war. Yes, that would help the situation.
Posted by: newageblues | February 18, 2010 8:05 PM
Ahhh.. here come's the Rat's spin machine just in time for an election.. Hey Rat, how about explaining to us what happened to the $1 Billion surplus Gov Erlich left you.. and now y'all don't spend that $100 credit this corrupt rat got you from BGE, while they try to raise electric rates again! Will the people of this state wake up and vote this lying, corrupt rat out of office!
Posted by: DemsIsEvil | February 18, 2010 10:22 PM
We are 6 weeks into the year. Who cares. Most of us have been snowed in for most of that time. Stupid quote.
Posted by: Neil | February 19, 2010 1:39 PM